Lam v.

Chua
JOSE LAM, petitioner
ADRIANA CHUA, respondent.
AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ, J.:
RecitReady:
Adriana and Jose wed through an arranged marriage. Adriana claims Jose kept asking her for money,
womanized, did not support their child, and was an overall asshole. They separated and executed a
property settlement which also provided for the support of their child. They were to contribute to a
common fund for their child. This agreement was approved by the court. Later on she filed a petition
before the PasayRTC for declaration of nullity on the ground of psychological incapacity. After
presenting her evidence the RTC allowed her motion to reopen and present new evidence. She
presented two marriage certificates of Joses previous marriages and asked for support. The RTC
declared the marriage void and awarded 20k support. CA affirmed. Jose only questioned the award
saying that it has already been settled. The SC noted that it was error for the lower and appellate courts
to declare the nullity of the marriage on the ground of bigamy which was not in the petition duly served
to Jose. This was denial of due process. However this was not questioned by Jose hence he is
estopped. On the issue of support the SC said there can never be res judicata on the issue of support
since it may be decreased or increased depending on the needs of recipient of support and the means
of the provider of support. Also, the claim of support must be sufficiently established by evidence on said
needs and means.
FACTS

March 11, 1994 Adriana filed a petition for declaration of nullity of marriage against Jose in
PasayRTC on the ground of psychological incapacity. They were married on January 13, 1984 and
have one son, John Paul. The petition alleged:
o She claimed Jose was incapacitated to comply with the essential marital obligations of
marriage but said incapacity was not then apparent and became manifest only after
the celebration of the marriage when he frequently failed to go home, indulged in
womanizing and irresponsible activities, mismanaging the CPG.
o To save what was left of their properties, she was forced to agree with Jose on the
dissolution of their CPG and the separation of present and future properties. It was
approved by the MakatiRTC in a Decision dated February 28, 1994.
o They had long been separated in bed and board; they have agreed that the custody of
their child will be with her, subject to Joses visitation rights.

Summons was duly served on Jose but no responsive pleading was filed by him.

The trial court issued an Order directing Asst. City Prosecutor Bonifacio Barrera to conduct an
investigation to determine whether or not there was collusion. His report stated that there seems to
be no collusion between the parties

The lone witness was Adriana herself. She testified that her marriage was arranged by her parents
the traditional Chinese way. Jose very seldom came home, never worked for a living and instead
kept asking for money from her to buy his sports cars; that she was also the one spending for all
the expenses of their only child. No evidence was presented regarding the amount of support
needed for John Paul nor the capacity of Jose to give support.

Adriana filed an Urgent Motion to Re-Open on the ground that she was able to secure additional
new evidence which were significant, material and indispensable. Motion granted.

The court admitted as evidence a Marriage Contract dated May 25, 1977 between Jose and one
Celia Santiago, and another Marriage Contract dated May 6, 1982 between Jose and one Evan
Lock.

The RTC declared the marriage between Adriana and Jose null and void for being bigamous. Jose
Lam was ordered to give 20k monthly support to his son John Paul.

Jose filed an MR only insofar as the decision awarded monthly support since there was already a
provision for support of the child in the agreement approved by the MakatiRTC wherein he and
Adriana agreed to contribute P250,000.00 each to a common fund for the benefit of the child.
However the same is to be increased as required, to be used solely and exclusively for the
benefit of their son.

MR denied. The agreement approved by the Makati RTC before the marriage was declared null and
void ab initio by the Pasay RTC, is of no moment and cannot limit and/or affect the support ordered
by the latter court. CA affirmed. Hence this petition for certiorari.
ISSUES:
1. WON THE COMPROMISE AGREEMENT WHERE the parties bound THEMSELVES TO
CONTRIBUTE (P250k) TO A COMMON FUND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR CHILD BARS

THE TRIAL COURT IN ANNULMENT CASE TO AGAIN AWARD SUPPORT IN FAVOR OF

THE CHILD. No the court is not barred.
2.

WON the court exceeded its jurisdiction in declaring the nullity of the marriage. YES but Jose is
estopped from questioning the same.

3.

WON THERE IS BASIS FOR THE 20k AWARD FOR MONTHLY SUPPORT. No sufficient
evidence. The SC deemed it proper that the issue on support be resolved by the Pasay RTC
where the claim for support of the child was initiated by Adriana.

RATIO for 1:
The provision on support under the approved compromise agreement cannot be considered final and
res judicata. Thus the court has authority to award support in an action for declaration of nullity of
marriage.
The Pasay RTC and the CA are both correct insofar as they ruled that the amount of support is by no
means permanent. Judgment for support does not become final. The right to support is of such nature
that its allowance is essentially provisional; for during the entire period that a needy party is entitled to
support, his or her alimony may be modified or altered, in accordance with his increased or decreased
needs, and with the means of the giver. It cannot be regarded as subject to final determination.
Any judgment for support is always subject to modification, depending upon the needs of the child and
the capabilities of the parents to give support.
RATIO FOR 2 & 3: However the Court notes four circumstances that taint the regularity of the
proceedings and the decision rendered by the trial court.
First, the only ground alleged in the petition is psychological incapacity without any prayer for the
support of her child. Adriana submitted the case for decision but moved to re-open which motion was
allowed. She presented evidence on July 6 1994 and also first claimed support for John Paul.
The petition of Adriana was substantially changed by the admission of the additional evidence. The
ground for nullity was changed from the psychological incapacity to the existence of previous marriages
with an additional claim for support. Such substantial changes were not reflected in the petition filed
except the insertion of the handwritten phrase And for respondent to support the child of petitioner in an
amount this Honorable Court may deem just and reasonable at the ultimate paragraph of the petition.
Nothing on record shows that Jose was notified of the substantial changes.
A party who has been declared in default is entitled to service of substantially amended or supplemental
pleadings. Considering that in cases of declaration of nullity of marriage or annulment of marriage, there
can be no default pursuant to the Revised Rules of Court in relation to Article 48 of the Family Code, it is
with more reason that Jose should be entitled to notice of all proceedings.
A court cannot set itself in motion, nor has it power to decide questions except as presented by the
parties in their pleadings. Anything that is decided beyond them is coram non-judice and
void. Therefore where a court enters a judgment or awards relief beyond the prayer of the
complaint or the scope of its allegations the excessive relief is not merely irregular but is void
for want of jurisdiction, and is open to collateral attack.
The appellate court also ruled that a judgment of a court upon a subject within its general jurisdiction,
but which is not brought before it by any statement or claim of the parties, and is foreign to the issues
submitted for its determination, is a nullity.
Thus it is a serious error for the trial court to have rendered judgment on issues not presented in the
pleadings as it was beyond its jurisdiction to do so. The amendment of the petition to reflect the new
issues and claims against Jose was, therefore, indispensable so as to authorize the court to act on the
issue of whether the marriage of Jose and Adriana was bigamous and the determination of the amount
that should have been awarded for the support of John Paul. When the trial court rendered judgment
beyond the allegations contained in the copy of the petition served upon Jose, the Pasay RTC had
acted in excess of its jurisdiction and deprived petitioner Lam of due process.
However Jose is estopped from questioning the declaration of nullity since he never questioned the
same before the RTC or the CA.
Second, the Pasay RTC did not give Jose an opportunity to be present on July 6 for the presentation of
evidence and to refute the same. Although copy of the motion was sent to Jose, the record does not
show that he received itin due time; neither does it show that he was notified of the subsequent hearing
where Adriana presented the marriage certificates and claimed for the support.
Third, the records do not show that Jose was sent a copy of the Order granting Urgent Motion to ReOpen of Adriana and forthwith allowed her to present her evidence.

Fourth, the evidence presented by Angelica on her claim for support is glaringly insufficient and cannot
be made a valid basis upon which the Pasay RTC could have determined the monthly amount
of P20,000.00 for the support.
The amount of support to be awarded should be in proportion to the resources or means of the giver
and the necessities of the recipient,1 pursuant to the Family Code, to wit:
Art. 194. Support comprises everything indispensable for sustenance, dwelling, clothing,
medical attendance, education and transportation, in keeping with the financial capacity of the
family.
The education of the person entitled to be supported referred to in the preceding paragraph
shall include his schooling or training for some profession, trade or vocation, even beyond the
age of majority. Transportation shall include expenses in going to and from school, or to and
from place of work.
Art. 202. Support in the cases referred to in the preceding article shall be reduced or increased
proportionately, according to the reduction or increase of the necessities of the recipient and
the resources or means of the person obliged to furnish the same.
Thus the award of support must be based on the evidence presented before it. The evidence must
prove the capacity or resources of both parents who are jointly obliged to support their children as
provided for under Article 1952 of the Family Code; and the monthly expenses incurred for the
sustenance, dwelling, clothing, medical attendance, education and transportation of the child.
In this case, the only evidence presented is her testimony which did not establish the amount needed by
their child nor the amount the parents are reasonably able to give:
Q - Considering the bigamous marriage contract by your husband with you, what do you want
to request to the Honorable Court?
A - I want to request the Court that the respondent be ordered to support my little boy.
Court:
Q - How much support do you want?
A - P20,000.00 to P25,000.00
Q - Is there a prayer for support?
A - None, Your Honor.
Court: Get the original copy of the complaint, add and sign it for the support of the boy.
The trial courts action of merely ordering in open court that a prayer for support be written and inserted
in the petition does not constitute proper amendment and notice upon petitioner Jose. Consequently,
herein petitioner Jose was deprived of due process.

1 Art 201, FC.

2
Art. 195. Subject to the provisions of the succeeding articles, the following are obliged to
support each other to the whole extent set forth in the preceding article:(1) The spouses;
(2) Legitimate ascendants and descendants;
(3) Parents and their legitimate children and the legitimate and illegitimate children of the latter;
(4) Parents and their illegitimate children and the legitimate and illegitimate children of the latter; and
(5) Legitimate brothers and sisters, whether of full or half-blood.
Art. 196. Brothers and sisters not legitimately related, whether of the full or half-blood, are likewise
bound to support each other to the full extent set forth in Article 194, except only when the
need for support of the brother or sister, being of age, is due to a cause imputable to the
claimants fault or negligence.